The International Menopause Society ( IMS ) in conjunction with the World Health Organisation ( WHO ), designated October as World Menopause Awareness Month . World Menopause Day has been held every year on the 18th of October since the decision was made by the WHO and the IMS . The purpose of the day is to raise awareness about menopause and highlight options available for improving health and wellbeing during this natural season of a woman ’ s life .
The theme for World Menopause Day 2021 is Bone Health .
What really is menopause though , and why should you be interested if you or no one you know is presently having that experience ?
WOMAN WELLNESS
Menopause is defined as the point in a woman ' s life when she has not had her period for one whole year . There is not a clear consensus as to when menopause begins as it is different for each woman . Some women stop having their period from as early as 35 years of age and others continue to have their period even in their 50s . To be clear , menopause marks the end of fertility as it relates to creating a physical child but NOT an end to sexuality or creativity .
We are wonderfully made and as such , our cyclical experiences as women are not a result of faulty plumbing . Normal changes in our reproductive and hormone systems cause menopause . What we know for sure is this , menopause is a natural part of growing older , and knowing what to expect makes the difference between whether or not this sacred transition is healthy , gentle , and smooth , or filled with discomfort , and anxiety .
Some not so natural Causes of Menopause :
As natural as the season of menopause is , there are however reasons which cause us to begin this journey before nature intended .
Some of these are :
• having ovaries removed
• radiation therapy
• chemotherapy
• other medications .
Some signs of menopause are :
• irregular menstrual periods
• hot flashes
• vaginal dryness
• irritability
• insomnia
• low energy
• decrease in sexual energy
• depression
• headaches .
This list is by no means exhaustive and also should not be used to determine that once these exist then it follows that menopause is afoot .
The hormone estrogen is more often than not mentioned along with progesterone because of its role in female reproductive and sexual health . Estrogen promotes lubrication in the vagina and helps to maintain the thickness of the vaginal wall however , this only scratches the surface of the importance of estrogen in the body . Estrogen plays a major role in the functioning of the cardiovascular system , helps protects women from bone loss , and contributes to cognitive health .
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